Recommendations below are a mix of standard references to identification, status
or other aspects of Irish and Waterford birds (and beyond), entertaining reads, and books that inspired many birders from
the 1960 or 1970s onwards - sometimes all three! Many are out of print (at least in their original editions) but
may be available as reprints or specialist second-hand bookshops. Last updated 24/09/2010

"Every plumage of all 1,300 species and subspecies recorded in Britain, Europe, North Africa
and the Middle East". Detailed, point-by-point summaries for each species and main plumage but no illustrations.

A book that inspired a generation of seawatchers, migrant-chasers and general birders. Now
very rare & expensive in its original edition (scarcest of the collectable "Poysers"), but also available in a paperback
reprint (2000).

A personal view of the history and development of "active birding" in Britain.

General reference

Stanley Cramp et al. (eds.) 1977-1994. Handbook
of the birds of Europe, the Middle east and North Africa: the birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University
Press:

Or 'BWP' as it's widely known - a multi-volume reference summarizing all relevant knowledge
of the species covered, although inevitably out of date in some respects. Original sets are now hard to find, but an interactive
DVD-ROM version is now available.

P.A.D. Hollom. 1988. The popular handbook of British Birds.
Witherby:

Now somewhat outdated but still a good general reference for behaviour, nesting biology
etc of commoner species.